Where to find free & low-cost food during the coronavirus pandemic
One of the pressing issues is the sudden lack of school-provided meals for children—and the extreme stress that this induces for many families who rely on them.
Across the world, families are wrapping their mind around how to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the pressing issues is the sudden lack of school-provided meals for children—and the extreme stress that this induces for many families who rely on them.
Additionally, many people are now without income, making purchasing food an extreme source of concern.
The good news is that many restaurants, food pantries, school districts and more are responding to the need.
This is in now way exhaustive, but it’s a start. Motherly will be updating this list frequently, so please send us any programs you hear of in your area to news@mother.ly.
Where to find free and low-cost food during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nationwide
- Buy Nothing Groups: Facebook-based local groups where neighbors offer free items. Some are starting food sharing options
- Burger King: 2 free kids meals with every adult meal purchase, starting March 23, 2020
- Moe’s Southwest Grill: 1 free kids meal with every adult meal purchase
- Meals on Wheels: Meals for senior citizens
- Revolution Foods: Offers contingency meals for school and community relief sites
- Salvation Army: Operations vary by state, many soup kitchens and food pantries available
- Sheetz (Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia): Free “Meal bagz” including a turkey sandwich, chips and a drink available in stores
- Sweetgreen: Free meals for healthcare workers
- Yumi: Donating meals to Feeding America and taking meal requests at support@helloyumi.com
- Online Food Pantries on Facebook
Alabama
- Birmingham-area: List of food resources
- Gulf-coast: List of food resources
Alaska
- List of restaurants where kids eat free (days vary)
- Anchorage School District
Arizona
- Arizona school districts free meals
- Phoenix: List of restaurants providing free meals for kids
Arkansas
- Northwest Arkansas: List of restaurants and school food offerings
- Stu’s Clean Cookin’: free meals for kids (1/day)
California
- California school districts free meals
- Los Angeles: list of restaurants offering free meals to kids
- Sacramento County: Interactive map of free meals for kids
- San Diego School District free meals
- San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD): Free meals for students aged 18 or younger
- Southern California: List of resources
Colorado
Connecticut
- Connecticut School District free meals
- Connecticut: List of food resources for kids and adults
Delaware
- Food Bank of Delaware, New Castle County, Sussex County, Kent County
- Wilmington School District free meals
District of Columbia
- D.C. area restaurants offering free food for kids
- Several Jose Andres Restaurants turned into community kitchens with low-cost or free meals.
Florida
Text FLKIDSMEALS to 211-211 to get updates.
Georgia
Hawaii
- Hawaii Department of Education free meals
Idaho
- Idaho School District free meals
Illinois
- Chicago: school system free meals
Indiana
- Indianapolis: list of free food resources for kids
Iowa
- Central Iowa School Districts free meals
- Des Moines: The Station on Ingersol offering free meals daily
- Iowa/Nebraska: List of food (and other) resources
Kansas
- Kansas City School District free meals
Kentucky
- Jefferson County Schools free meals
- Lexington School District free meals
Louisiana
- Louisiana: Interactive map of free school lunch locations
Maine
- List of resources for state of Maine
Maryland
- Baltimore: List of restaurant providing free meals
Massachusetts
- Boston Public School District free meals for
Michigan
- Interactive map of free meals for kids
Minnesota
- Twin Cities: List of restaurants providing free meals for kids
Mississippi
- Jackson: List of school districts providing free meals
- Jackson: Mobile meal drop off
- Lee County School District free meals
Missouri
- Kansas City School District free meals
Nebraska
- Nebraska/Iowa: List of food (and other) resources
Nevada
- List of resources (food and other)
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- Camden City School District free meals
- Elsies, Haddon Township
- JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, Toms River and Rutgers University-Newark
- Jersey Mikes (some locations)
- The Square Meal, Oaklyn
New Mexico
- New Mexico School District free meals
New York
Text COVID to 692692 to get updates in New York City.
- Several Jose Andres Restaurants turned into community kitchens with low-cost or free meals
- New York City free meals for students
- Rochester area school district free meals
North Carolina
- No Kid Hungry NC list of resources
North Dakota
Ohio
- Cincinnati: List of restaurants offering free food
- Ohio School District free meals
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City School District offering free food
Oregon
- Portland: Sugar Street Baker & Bistro offering free lunch for kids
Pennsylvania
- Delaware County Online Food Pantry
- Feeding PA
- Hunger-free Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia: List of free meal sources for kids
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
- Middle-Tennessee area food pantries
- Nashville: The Store to offer free food for senior citizens
Texas
- Austin: List of restaurants offering free meals
- Austin School District free meals
- Houston area School District free meals
- San Antonio School District free meals
Vermont
Virginia
- Fairfax County School District free meals
Washington
Wisconsin
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